Recently, a friend of mine was asked to do a commercial recording session. During the session, it became obvious that things were not going well. Finally, the producer asked my friend, “Can you play like John Smith?” (John Smith doesn’t exist. Put the name of any famous drummer in place of John Smith.) The point is a simple one. My friend felt like saying, “Why didn’t you hire John Smith?” However, he kept quiet and tried to do the best professional job that he could. When we discussed it later, it was apparent that although my friend plays very well, he just wasn’t the right drummer for the situation.   Why Does This Happen? Sometimes the other musicians admire and like a famous drummer, such as my imaginary John Smith. They expect to hear and feel that same style. When the new drummer plays, it is not what the others […]

November 1982 Issue